The 79-year-old CS Cable Restorer in Simon’s Town has finally sunk, resulting in an oil spill in the South African Navy’s Outer West Breakwater.
Also read: Local researchers collaborate on oil spill model for South Africa
Launched in 1944 as the HMS Bullfrog and used for harbour defence work during the Second World War, the vessel also served commercial companies in the laying and repairing of undersea communications cables after it was renamed the Cable Restorer in 1961. It was decommissioned in 1993.
It has been under the ownership of a seasoned mariner and previous mayor of Simon’s Town, Harry Dilley. Over the past few years, Dilley has been investing funds for the maintenance of the vessel and has gradually been cutting it down for scrap and dismantling it since the Simon’s Town Museum can no longer afford to keep it as a museum.
As per the Daily Maverick, the surrounding community has voiced its concerns about the ship sinking for years. Eddie Wesselo, Simon’s Town Museum board of trustees chair, wrote a letter requesting the urgent removal of the ship in 2017.
He wrote: ‘Should the ship sink at her moorings (which is not impossible) there would be a major problem with pollution on account of the asbestos, fuel and other substances within her. It would be an extremely hazardous situation for both the public and the environment.’
Cape {town} Etc discount: Enjoy a silent disco zumba class on Muizenberg Beach for R125. Get it here.
According to the Daily Maverick, the SA Navy had also made numerous appeals to the owners to have it removed. ‘Unfortunately, this was never adhered to.’
In 2021, concerns about the possible impact of the deteriorating vessel on the marine environment were raised again after a red tide caused the vessel to snap in two. At the time, Cape Town’s Coastal Manager Gregg Oelofse stated that the SA Navy informed the City that there was little to no risk of any pollution as nearly all of the oil onboard the vessel had been removed.
‘There is only a small amount of oil residuals in the boat as the main part has been pumped off,’ says Katta Ludynia of the Southern African Foundation for Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob).
However, when intense rainfall over the weekend of 23 to 25 September caused water to collect in the shell of the ship, causing it to sink in the harbour, residual oil stuck in the ship’s nooks and crannies leaked into the ocean. Furthermore, gale-force winds and currents from the storm system churned up the oil, scattering parts of it along the coastline.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, confirmed that small quantities of old fuel and oil residue leaked into the ocean. However, according to Alison Kock, a South African National Parks (SANParks) marine biologist, the oil spill was ‘relatively small’, and that the southeasterly wind had pushed it towards Simon’s Town Long Beach and northwards to adjacent beaches.
At the time of the incident, onlookers noted that the weather had swept oil outside the borders of the yacht club by the time the Navy’s tugboat was able to investigate. This means that a pollution boom could not be placed to stop the oil from escaping the harbour.
The Navy had responded as the ship was docked in a marine-protected area. ‘Containment efforts were made to prevent any oil spills and mitigate their effects on the environment. The containment efforts were successful and yielded positive results. All relevant departments within the City of Cape Town were alerted,’ it stated.
SANParks and the City activated its oil-spill wildlife response on Monday, 26 September, while Sanccob remained on standby to receive any oiled seabirds and to assess the scale of the spill along the coast.
Looking for a deal on a car, but tight on a budget? Have a look at these offers for under R100 000. View the deals here.
On Thursday, 28 September, the City reported that only very small globules of oil were detected in a few small areas during a coastal vessel survey of the inshore zone. ‘We don’t expect any large oil impacts,’ says Andrews. ‘The biggest impact of the sinking is the likely loss of water space alongside the harbour wall and inside the FBYC [False Bay Yacht Club] due to the position of the wreck.’
Andrews says the affected areas include Fish Howk on the Clovelly side and Glencairn beaches, which experienced very small amounts of fuel and/or oil residue washout on Monday and Tuesday.
‘This has subsequently cleared and the beaches are mostly free from any fuel/oil residue, although small little globules could still be encountered by the public over the coming weeks.’
Kock says oil spills pose a significant threat to marine environments and wildlife in general. Ranging from small localised incidents to major events. ‘These spills introduce highly toxic petroleum products containing chemicals like PAHs and heavy metals, disrupting marine life’s reproductive, respiratory and immune systems and leading to long-term damage.
‘Moreover, oil spills form surface slicks that coat the bodies of birds, mammals and aquatic organisms, impairing their ability to regulate temperature and buoyancy, increasing the risk of hypothermia and making it difficult for birds to stay afloat.’
Kock adds that no obviously oiled seabirds or marine wildlife had been reported or found to date. The SANParks team and Sanccob are however on standby to respond to any affected marine life. ‘The clean-up of oil spills is challenging and costly, with some oil sinking or dispersing in the water, rendering removal difficult. Furthermore, it’s crucial to recognise that oil spills are not isolated incidents. Over time, multiple spills can accumulate in the same region, resulting in cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems and wildlife.’
‘Sanccob remains on standby to receive affected seabirds and is providing support to conservation authorities through area surveillance of the area for any wildlife that may be affected,’ says Monica Stassen, Sanccob’s preparedness and response manager.
‘Oil pollution in the marine environment remains a major concern, especially when it occurs near an endangered African penguin colony. This incident serves as a reminder that incidents can occur at any time and directly threaten vulnerable marine species and ecosystems, which is the primary reason why Sanccob maintains 24/7 preparedness.’
While the wildlife response was hampered by the extreme weather conditions and rough seas, Andrews says the City had reported that no birds in distress were found following a comprehensive sweep of the beaches on Tuesday, 26 September.
Cape {town} Etc discount: From gorgeous wineland retreats and luxury pamper packages, to exhilarating experiences and meals for two, there is something for everyone (and every budget). View deals here.
Also read:
City cleaning up suspected oil spill exposed at St James Beach